The City of Atlanta has improved its national ParkScore ranking from 21st to 18th among the 100 most populous U.S. cities, according to The Trust for Public Land’s (TPL) 2026 ParkScore Index.
According to a press release, the three-spot rise reflects the city’s ongoing commitment to “expanding access, strengthening equity, investing in communities, and enhancing park amenities across every neighborhood.”
The achievement also aligns with Mayor Andre Dickens’ broader greenspace vision and the work of the Mayor’s Greenspace Advisory Council, which is focused on expanding equitable access to parks, trails, and connected green infrastructure.
“Atlanta’s continuous rise in the ParkScore Index, from 49th when I first took office to now 18th, is further proof that meaningful, deliberate investments deliver results,” Dickens said in a statement. “For more than four years, our Administration has worked to ensure every neighborhood across this city has access to quality parks and greenspace. These spaces are more than just land, they are community; places to gather, celebrate and make memories. Thank you to the dedicated team at the Department of Parks and Recreation for their work to embody our Moving Atlanta Forward mission.”
“Atlanta’s new status as a top 20 ParkScore city reflects its significant, long-term commitment to improve the lives of residents by building and maintaining a world-class park system,” George Dusenbury, VP of ParkScore for Trust for Public Land, said in a statement. “By continuing to add new parks, improve recreational amenities, and increase funding for park maintenance, Mayor Dickens can build upon Atlanta’s best-ever ParkScore rating and lead the city even higher.”
The ParkScore Index is the nation’s leading comparison of urban park systems, evaluating cities annually across five key categories: access, investment, amenities, acreage and equity. Atlanta’s overall score this year is 67.9 out of 100, based on 15 measures that collectively demonstrate how effectively the city serves residents through parks and recreation.
